In this invention, when execution of an special function executable only by a second storage control apparatus connected to a first storage control apparatus is requested by a higher-level apparatus, the special function is caused to be executed by a second storage control apparatus, and appropriate load balancing is achieved. An executing apparatus judgment section, upon receiving an execution request from a host, uses a function management section and a state detection section to decide which storage control apparatus should execute the function. An execution instruction section issues an instruction to execute the function to the function execution section of the storage control apparatus determined to be the executing apparatus. By this means, even in the case of an special function executable only by a storage control apparatus, the function can be caused to be executed. Hence a connection source storage control apparatus can appear to have increased functionality, without installing the function on the connection source storage control apparatus.